Publications

Publications

The legal and technical publications and information materials produced and disseminated are convention-specific as well as those related to cross-cutting and joint activities included in the programmes of work of the three conventions.

10 Years of Synergies Decisions 2005 - 2015

The interactive Manual for Customs on hazardous chemicals and wastes under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions will enhance your knowledge of the three global treaties that contribute to safely managing the production, movement, use and disposal of hazardous chemicals and wastes.

English:

Manual for customs officers

The interactive Manual for Customs on hazardous chemicals and wastes under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions will enhance your knowledge of the three global treaties that contribute to safely managing the production, movement, use and disposal of hazardous chemicals and wastes.

Customs play a key role in facilitating the legal trade of hazardous chemicals and wastes, and in detecting possible cases of illegal traffic – especially in ports and along the borders. This manual will inform you about the objectives, procedures, rights and obligations contained in these three multilateral environmental agreements as they relate to the work of Customs. It describes in general what Customs should know to facilitate the legal trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes. It will also support you in how to identify and deal with possible cases of illegal trade/traffic.

The Manual is divided into 6 modules, each of them containing an introduction, lessons, questions and a resources section. The lessons are supported by practical examples and images.

The Manual is complemented by four annexes:

a glossary explaining key terms and concepts under the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions which will be frequently referred to in this Manual (annex I);

an identification tool for wastes covered by the Basel Convention (annex II);

an identification tool for the persistent organic pollutants that may be subject to international trade under the Stockholm Convention (annex III); and

an identification table for the chemicals covered by the Rotterdam Convention (annex IV).

The Manual was developed with the support of a financial contribution from the European Union.

Examples of successful activities undertaken to implement the multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and other international frameworks in the hazardous wastes and chemicals cluster in a coordinated manner. The stories are based on national or regional projects and have been written by persons directly involved in activities at the national, regional and global levels.